September 14, 2010

Ok, by now you've had a chance to figure out your schedule, time your parking searches and are likely just getting (re-)introduced to the geese. While you pick your extra-curricular activities and pack your schedule, here are a couple more events to add:

1) International Speaker Series kicks off with Adrian Wooldridge talking about "The New Face of Globalization." Wooldridge is the management editor for The Economist (recommended reading!) and writes the Schumpeter column for the online version. Mark your calendar for Monday, September 20 from 3:30-4:30 PM in the Dale Halton Reading Room of the Atkins Library.
2) 35th Annual International Festival - it's older than most of you and is UNC Charlotte's longest-running tradition. It's free. It's all-day. Music, dancing, art, crafts, entertainment, what more do you want? Take the opportunity to explore countries and ethnic groups from around the world - meet some new people, taste new food and learn about different places.

September 3, 2010

So there's this list that comes out every year to inform the old fogies at your local institution about the changes they can expect from the incoming batch of freshmen. This year's list, not unlike others, has generated quite a fair amount of discussion in our offices - well, discussion and shock, actually.

The full list would make this the longest blog post to date. So instead, here's the full article for the Class of 2014 and below are the top three - incidentally, the three that have generated the most discussion.

1) Few in the class know how to write in cursive. (Show of "hands" please - is this true?)
2) Email is just too slow, and they seldom if ever use snail mail. (This was a true surprise and recent evaluations by one of our programs confirmed this statement. So, what do you use? FB? Skype? Video games?)
3) “Go West, Young College Grad” has always implied “and don’t stop until you get to Asia…and learn Chinese along the way.” (We agree. And keep going West until you've traveled the world. And make friends at UNC Charlotte from around the world. Visit our offices! Be engaged in Niner International.)

Ok, and here are three more fairly random associations with the new class, just for fun:

19. They never twisted the coiled handset wire aimlessly around their wrists while chatting on the phone.
36. Adhesive strips have always been available in varying skin tones.
50. Toothpaste tubes have always stood up on their caps.

Comments/clarification/arguments welcome from Class of 2014 or otherwise!

About Me

The Office of International Programs (OIP) is a hub for international engagement at UNC Charlotte. Whether you're interested in studying abroad, making a friend from another country, developing a better understanding of world issues or cultures, OIP facilitates these opportunities. Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate.